Gene Wang/Getty Images
Trea Turner went full Captain America on Saturday night.
The Philadelphia Phillies shortstop was the catalyst for the United States in the team’s 9-7 victory over Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami.
With the U.S. trailing Venezuela 7-5 following a solo home run by Luis Arraez in the bottom of the seventh inning, Turner hit a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to put the Americans on top 9-7.
Oh, and he was down 0-2 in the count when he launched one into the left field stands, making it that much more impressive.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
TREA TURNER GRAND SLAM TO PUT TEAM USA UP 9-7 🇺🇸
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Trea Turner’s 8th-inning go-ahead grand slam is the first go-ahead grand slam in the 6th inning or later in World Baseball Classic history. pic.twitter.com/vMIy6hH4Z4
While Mookie Betts, Paul Goldschmidt and Kyle Tucker also drove in runs for the United States on Saturday night, it was Turner who sent Twitter into a frenzy as he helped lift the Americans to a berth in the semifinals:
Whit Merrifield @WhitMerrifield
Wow!!! What a moment!! Let’s go @USABaseball !! #WBC
Jack Flaherty @Jack9Flaherty
Patrick Mahomes II @PatrickMahomes
Let’s gooooo!!!!!! @treavturner
Bryan Levine @Bryan_Levine
Don’t have kids, folks. Because when Trea Turner hits an 8th inning go-ahead grand slam in the WBC, you have to celebrate very quietly. https://t.co/eFlI1FHXpa
Jake Reiner @Reiner_Jake
I OWE TREA TURNER AN APOLOGY I WAS NOT FAMLIAR WITH HIS GAME https://t.co/txY63J1dN6
Dan Moscaritolo @DanMoscaritolo
When Trea Turner is batting 9th, your team’s in trouble. #USA
Adam the dont stare directly at the sun worm @trislerstudz
build the Trea Turner statue on the Whitehouse lawn
Alex Contreras @TheRealACoN
Trea Turner holy sh*t
Biggest hit of his life!
Grandslam to give USA the lead #WorldBaseballClassic
Liz Roscher @lizroscher
his full name is Trea Turner Of The Philadelphia Phillies. legally that’s what it is.
Taylor Grzelakowski @T_Gelly
Okay fine. Trea Turner can be my shortstop in @MLBTheShow if he wants.
⚾️ Marvin Freeman ⚾️ @marvinfreeman84
What’s more Exciting than a 4-Run Homer? #TreaTurner
Evan Lazar @ezlazar
Live look at Trea Turner. pic.twitter.com/qeD9wtp4wq
Ben Verlander @BenVerlander
TREA TURNER FOR PRESIDENT!!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dusty Baker @DustyBakerTV
Trea Turner is a true American pic.twitter.com/Kp6Jwz4IRE
The United States is aiming to win its second World Baseball Classic title in a row. If they win it all this year, they would join Japan as the only back-to-back winners in the tournament’s history. Japan accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2009.
The Americans will be back in action on Sunday against Cuba at 7 p.m. ET with a spot in the championship game on the line.
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